A chance for receivers to separate

Much as you hate to hear the word "separate" instead of simply "get open" from TV analysts who love to use alternative descriptions for the most basic things, tomorrow night's game will be a chance for some Eagles receivers to actually separate themselves from the still-crowded, cross-country pack that defines what's left of the pack.

Already gone for good this season are Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn to ACL injuries, not to mention Dave Ball (waived/injured), with perhaps Damaris Johnson (hamstring) and rookie Russell Shepard (hamstring) also being unavailable for the preseason opener against the New England Patriots.

All we know (and coach Chip Kelly knows, for that matter) is that DeSean Jackson is the best of the bunch, followed by Jason Avant and Riley Cooper.

This represents a little bit of a change from the initial depth chart, in which Cooper was listed ahead of Avant. This is most puzzling. Because although Cooper was away from the team then, supposedly getting counseling for a racial slur he made last June, he has done nothing but solidify his status since his return with a couple of excellent practices against the New England Patriots on Tuesday and Wednesday.

No matter. Here's how Kelly explained the current pecking order.

"When you get to those positions, what are we
starting in? We could start in three tight ends with only one receiver on
the first snap," he said. "It's [Jackson], Avant, Riley, and then behind them is
[Russell] Shepard, [Ifeanyi] Momah, Damaris [Johnson], and then [Greg] Salas
and the rest of the group.

So it really depends on what we call for the
personnel group. We could call for four wides on the first play of the
game, so then there would be four wides to start."

Will Murphy and Nick Miller are the only other receivers on the roster, which could be tweaked by general manager Howie Roseman soon if the Eagles don't see enough from their current stable Friday night.